Anxiety Life Hacks

The day will be what you make of it. So rise, like the sun, and shine.

This is easier said than done some days. Some days, I wake up and no matter what happens, I know it’s going to be a good day. Those days, it’s much easier to shine. You don’t even need a quote like this on a day like that.

Other days, like this morning, my anxiety is high – for no reason that I can figure out. When I’m anxious for a reason – knowing the reason helps me to fight it. When I’m anxious without a reason, it’s harder. It’s harder to push through, harder to use the tools I have, harder just to get going. For me, anxiety is an elephant that sits on my chest. It makes my heart ache and it feels more difficult to breathe. I’m tense, clench my jaw and shoulders, and feel so very heavy. It’s discouraging and it’s sad and it’s something I have to deal with every day to some extent.

Today has started out as a yuck day. I had trouble sleeping and woke up with my ever present elephant. Side thought – I like elephants. I wonder what would happen if I named my elephant and called her Ellie or something. Maybe I could reason with it better… haha!

Today as I looked through my picture quotes to blog, this one jumped out at me because I know it’s going to be an effort to rise like the sun today. It’s going to be an effort to shine. But I do have tools and I can rise above this. It may not go completely away, but I can conquer this yucky feeling right now. Here are some of the tools I use…

• Prayer – I struggle with religion but I love God and despite any struggles I have, He has always been there when I needed Him, and has provided peace when there was no sight of peace ahead.
• Affirmations – I am statements are so vital to my spiritual life that I cannot imagine a day without them! On days like today, I will say things such as “I am strong. I am brave. I am loved. I am safe.”
• Meditation – Quieting an anxious mind is like trying to herd cats but my meditation practice has helped so much. There are days I am able to quiet my mind easily and days I have to work like a boss to achieve it but it’s so worth it. The Calm App is a life savor for guided meditations!
• Picture Quotes – This is a personal one for me. Looking through pictures and adding quotes to them calms me. It’s something I love to do. A hobby. What’s your hobby? Do it when you’re feeling down!
• Snuggling my Daughter – Nothing makes me feel better than this!
• Nature – Getting outside is soothing to my soul. Especially the beach! The beach is soul food. Since it’s already pouring outside, that won’t be happening today but getting outside into nature is very healing!
• Get Moving – This is a hard one for me because when I’m anxious or depressed, the last thing I want to do is exercise. If I can get myself up to walk or do yoga though, the effects are immediate!

If you are struggling, know that you are not alone and that it’s OK to ask for help. I see a counselor on a regular basis. I began when I was going through trauma but continue to go now because it’s OK to need help. Anxiety is hard and it takes support and tools and strategies and hard work to get through. It takes bravery and strength just to get through the day sometimes! And that’s OK. It’s really, truly OK.